Gas lantern and loud speaker housing



May 18, 1965 J. J. HAMMES ETAL GAS LANTERN AND LOUD SPEAKER HOUSING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 51, 1962 7 42 lm/ffl-rofls: Juan J. HAM/45s, 84s. E. BECKER, 36

v HTTORNEYS AIIIIIIIIIA m\ IIIIIIlI/l/IIIA g V alllliflfrldl y 1965 J. J. HAMMES ETAL 3,184,586

GAS LANTERN AND LOUD SPEAKER HOUSING Filed May 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO JOSEF J-HAM s, Ens/L E. BICKEL,

HTTQRNEKS United States Patent 3,1345% GAS LANTERN AND BUD SPEAKER HOUSING Josef I. Hammes, 8t. Louis, and Basil Bickel, La Due, Mo, assignors to iioweii Manufacturing Company, Maplewood, Mo a corporation of Missouri Filed itiay 31, 1962, Ser. No. 93,917 7 Ciaims. (Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to improvements in a gas lantern and loud speaker housing and in particular is concerned with a post mounted housing having means for supporting both a gas burner and a loud speaker.

Essentially, this invention relates to a post supported housing which may be used in a lawn, by a swimming pool, at the entrance to a house, and other areas where lighting and a loud speaker may be employed. The housing provides a mounting for both a gas lantern for illumination of an area and for mounting a loud speaker so that recorded music or other conventional means of communication can be transmitted through the loud speaker. By this means, simultaneous illumination of an area and sound can be transmitted from the housing, which also provides a very attractive addition to the environment.

As a special feature of this invention, the housing has not only the full provision for providing gas and illumination through it to the area to be illuminated, but also has means for protecting the loud speaker. The loud speaker is mounted in the housing below the gas burners, and sound waves are transmitted through louvers in the side of the housing for distribution to the immediate area. The entire housing is mounted upon a hollow post within which a gas pipe leading to the burner, and electrical leads leading to the loud speaker cone, are situated. As a very important element of the invention, the loud speaker is so constructed that the gas supply pipe passes directly through the middle of it and in this manner ease of construction is obtained. At the same time it has been found that a high fidelity of reproduction is aliorded.

The entire gas lantern and loud speaker housing can be employed as a unit and very simply installed in the ground in a desired area. It will be understood that there are openings at the bottom of the post in order that the gas pipe may be connected through the ground, or slightly above it, to a convenient source of gas supply, and, in like manner, the electrical leads are connected to either a radio receiver or a phonograph. The housing has specially constructed louver means and a chimney for protecting the interior against inclement weather, either by rain, wind, or the like. The entire unit may also be very simply installed without any complicated.

tools or equipment required, and is rugged and efficient in use.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows, and will otherwise be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment. In this preferred embodiment, the loud speaker is pointed downwardly, which is the preferred construction both for protection of the speaker and most efficient sound distribution, but it will be understood that it may also be pointed upwardly.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation of the gas lantern and loud speaker housing connected to the top portion of a post;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the interior construction;

FIGURE 3 is a View in section taken on line 33 of FIGURE '2 showing the bracing of the burner pipe and burner;

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2 showing the mounting of the loud speaker;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 1 showing the corner construction of the housing;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the loud speaker having an opening through the center of the speaker and magnet so as to receive the gas burner FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the speaker of FIGURE 6 with a portion broken away showing the electrical connections;

FIGURE 8 is a view in section taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 6 showing the internal construction of the loud speaker; and

FIGURE 9 is a detail plan view of the gas burner brace.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and '2, the gas lantern and loud speaker housing is shown generally indicated by the reference numeral iii supported upon a hollow post 12. The loud speaker cone is generally indicated by the reference numeral 14, while the gas burner situated above it is identified by the reference numeral 16.

The housing structure itself will be first described. The housing 10 is mounted upon a base mounting 18 having a sleeve portion 20 fitting loosely over the top of the post and adapted to be connected thereto by a setscrew 22. A flat top 24- of the base serves by means of connecting bolts 26 to serve as a connecting point for the bottom 27 of the housing. The housing has four side walls connected together to form a square cross section which diverge upwardly. A roof section 28 is provided at the top with a chimney 30 and a chimney cap 32.

The side walls are formed at their bottom by metal side wall sections 34, each one of which is provided with a series of louvered openings 36. The top portion of the sides is formed from a glass wall section 38. The side walls are held together by upwardly extending corner braces comprising an inner C-shaped brace member 4t and an outer C-shaped member 42 with a bolt 44 being adapted to tighten the two together and hold the edges of the side walls therebetween. Thus, both the metal bottom walls 34 and the transparent top glass walls 33 can be firmly secured within the housing, as well appears from an inspection of FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The top of the side walls of the housing have a bent over peripheral flange portion 46, as best shown in FIG- URE 2. The flange portion supports the roof 28 and also serves as a means for mounting a hinge 48, which is also connected to a flange portion 50 of the roof. The downward sloping nature of the flange also serves as an eaves so that rain water does not drain down the sides of the housing which minimizes moisture within it. The roof 2% at its sides is further provided with louvered openings 52 for the escape of hot air and any gases created by the lighting of the gas burner. The fiat top portion 54 of the roof has openings 56 likewise for the escape of the hot air and gases, and the portion 54 further serves as a support for the chimney 30. The chimney cap 32, having a conical configuration and fitting loosely over the top or" the chimney, provides for the escape of hot air and gases through tortuous passage 58.

The burner 16 and its method of support is best shown by FIGURES 2, 3 and 9. The burner is comprised of a double burner element (til upon which are supported gas mantles s2. The burner elements communicate with a burner pipe 64 and control of gas may be had through a valve element 65'. The burner pipe 64 is centered 3 within an X-shaped bracket 66, which is connected to the side walls of the housing by bolts attached to a flange bracket d3. The burner pipe 64, through the threaded portion 70, and securing nuts 72, may thereby be firmly afiixed to the X-shaped bracket support 66. It will be noted that the burner pipe 64 extends downwardly through the base and through the hollow post 12 to any convenient source of gas supply.

The speaker cone 14 is best shown in FIGURES 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8. As there shown, it is comprised of a metal frame 74 which is adapted to be connected by bolts to a flange bracket 76 secured to the side walls of the housing. The speaker cone further includes the usual diaphragm 78 which is mounted in fioatable relation through a bellows 8% connected at the inside of the cone and at the outside of the frame 74. The cone guide ring 81 is guided loosely in a groove 82 of a permanent magnet 84. Suitable electrical leads 87 are connected to the permanent magnet and the speaker cone in the usual fashion. The permanent magnet is of special construction as it and the bellows are both in the shape of a torus or doughnut with an opening through the center whereby the gas pipe 64 may pass through them. To accommodate this, a plug element 86 is press fitted within the central opening in the permanent magnet and the plug element likewise has a central opening so that the gas pipe may pass therethrough.

Use

The gas lantern and loud speaker housing of this invention are very simply employed. The entire unit is simply connected to a hollow post 12, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and this support may be within the ground or through any suitable base connection to a floor or the like. Suitable gas connections are made to the gas pipe 64, and, likewise, suitable electrical connections from a radio or phonograph are made to the electrical leads 87 f the loud speaker.

It will be understood that the gas supply may be left on or regulated by the valve 65. The gas mantles 62 of the conventional Welsbach construction are lighted by the combustion of the gas and provide a brilliant source of illumination. This illumination is transmitted through the windows. Any hot combustion gases that may be created, as well as hot air, escape upwardly throughthe louvered openings 52 in the roof, or through the chimney.

The loud speaker, through its mounting below the gas burner, is well protected from any heat created within the housing. Thus, any hot combustion gases or hot air created will travel upwardly and will not damage the loud speaker cone. Further, through the ample space within the housing, the loud speaker is free to function in the usual manner and reproduce sound waves which are transmitted through the bottom louvered openings 36 in the side walls, or through the roof louvered openings. A high fidelity and faithfulness of reproduction are obtained by means of this construction.

Further, it will be observed that the loud speaker cone is well protected through the downwardly slanted louver openings and through the particular afiiXation of the speaker cone below the gas burner at the bottom of the housing. The provision of the gas burner pipe through the permanent magnet and the speaker cone has made possible the housing structure in a simple and highly eflicient manner of operation. Thus, a direct connection through the loud speaker cone is effected to pass gas to the gas burner and no complicated plumbing connections are required.

Various changes and modifications may be made in this housing as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

snsasse 1. A housing for a loud speaker and gas light comprising:

(a) abase,

(b) means supporting a loud speaker within said housing above said base,

(0) a gas burner means supported within said housing above the loud speaker,

(at) conduit means passing from beneath the base upwardly through the center of the loud speaker to said gas burner for furnishing a supply of gas to said gas burner.

2. A housing for a gas burner and loud speaker comprising:

(a) a base,

(1;) sidewalls,

(c) a roof supported upon the side walls,

(d) a chimney supported upon the roof and having a tortuous passage means communicating with the interior of the housing,

(2) a gas burner disposed centrally within the housing,

(1) conduit means communicating with the gas burner and passing downwardly through the center of the base,

(g) a loud speaker mounted upon the side walls beneath the gas burner,

(It) said loud speaker having a central opening re ceiving said conduit means.

3. A housing for a gas burnerand loud speaker comprising:

(a) abase,

(22) side walls,

(0) a roof supported upon the side Walls,

(d) a chimney supported upon the roof and having a tortuous passage means communicating with the interior of the housing,

(e) a gas burner disposed centrally within the housing,

(f) conduit means communicating with the gas burner ind passing downwardly through the center of the ase,

(g) a loud speaker mounted upon the side walls beneath the gas burner,

(h) said loud speaker having a centrally located permanent magnet having a central opening receiving said conduit means.

4. A housing for a gas burner and loud speaker comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) upwardly diverging side walls having louvered openings therein,

(0) upwardly converging walls defining a roof supported upon said side walls and louvered openings therein,

(d) a chimney supported upon the roof and having a tortuous passage means communicating with the interior of the housing,

(e) a gas burner disposed centrally within the housing,

(f) conduit means communicating with the gas burner and passing downwardly through the center of the base,

(g) a loud speaker mounted upon the side walls above 7 a portion of said louvered openings in said upwardly diverging side walls beneath the gas burner,

(h) said loud speaker having a central opening receiving said conduit means.

5. A housing for a gas burner and loud speaker comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) upwardly diverging side walls having louvered openings therein,

(c) upwardly converging walls defining a roof supported upon said side walls and louvered openings therein,

(d) a chimney supported upon the roof and having a tortuous passage means communicating with the interior of the housing,

(e) a gas burner disposed centrally within the housing,

(f) conduit means communicating with the gas burner and passing downwardly through the center of the base,

(g) a loud speaker mounted upon the side walls above a portion of said louvered openings in said upwardly diverging side walls beneath the gas burner,

(11) said loud speaker having a centrally located permanent magnet having a central opening receiving said conduit means,

(i) said loud speaker being conical and being directly downwardly within said housing.

6. A housing for a gas burner and loud speaker comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) side walls,

() a root supported upon the side walls,

(at) a chimney supported upon the roof and having a tortuous passage means communicating with the interior of the housing,

(2) a gas burner disposed centrally within the housing,

(f) conduit means communicating with the gas burner and passing downwardly through the center of the base,

(g) a loud speaker mounted upon the side walls beheath the gas burner,

(it) said loud speaker having a centrally located permanent magnet having a central opening receiving said conduit means,

(i) said permanent magnet loosely receiving a guide portion of a loud speaker diaphragm in movable relation within said opening.

7. A housing for a gas burner and loud speaker comprising:

(a) a base,

(b) side walls,

(c) a root supported upon the side Walls,

(d) a chimney supported upon the roof and having a tortuous passage means communicating with the interior of the housing,

(e) a gas burner disposed centrally within the housing,

(1) conduit means communicating with the gas burner and passing downwardly through the center of the base,

(g) a loud speaker mounted upon the side walis beneath the gas burner,

(h) said loud speaker having a centrally located permanent magnet having a central opening receiving said conduit means,

(i) said permanent magnet loosely receiving a guide portion of a loud speaker diaphragm in movable relat-ion within said opening, and

(j) said diaphragm being connected to the permanent magnet in movable relation therewith by a bellows.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,559,045 7/51 Petel 240-2 2,613,757 10/52 Melzer 23738 2,796,7 5 3 6/57 Wallgren 67-88 3,063,278 11/ 62 Van Tubergen et al 67-87 FOREIGN PATENTS 475 1 1/ 37 Great Britain. 148,1 9/3 1 Switzerland.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

F. L. MATTESON, IR., Examiner. 

1. A HOUSING FOR A LOUD SPEAKER AND GAS LIGHT COMPRISING: (A) A BASE, (B) MEANS SUPPORTING A LOUD SPEAKER WITHIN SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID BASE, (C) A GAS BURNER MEANS SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING ABOVE THE LOUD SPEAKER, (D) CONDUIT MEANS PASSING FROM BENEATH THE BASE UPWARDLY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE LOUD SPEAKER TO SAID GAS BURNER FOR FURNISHING A SUPPLY OF GAS TO SAID GAS BURNER. 